The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-14
THE LAVA FLOW
Interesting E"tes BY szE =. e.
Clarke.

Hawaii and the late flow by the kinau
last Saturday, has given us some inter
esting facts concerning his tripWhich we
transcribe for the benefit of our readers.
As previously stated by us, Mr. Clarke
went up to Hawaii to visit and take
photographs and sketches of the recent
flow for the Government. He was ac-
companied by Mr. SEVERN as photo
grapher, and the party landed at Hilo
where they were fitted ont with horses
and men. Leaving Hilo on Thursday
morning, January 9Th, the party reached
the Volcano House the same evening,
and the next day went into the crater
with the party vino had come up by way
Of Keauhou.
Having finished his observations
around Kilauea, Mr.. Clarke left for
Hilea, Kau, stopping on the way at
points where the effects OF the earth
quakes which preceded and accOmpan-
led the flow had been most sensibly felt.
At the old Reed {, Richardson Ranch,
now the residence OF Mr.. Julian Mon
sarrat, the shocks had been alarmingly
severe, and of the same nature, appar-
emily, as those which produced the great
mud flow in this locality in 1868 The
principal shocks seemed to be from the
interior of the mountain, with no rolling
or undulating motion, but rather as Sc
we're blows directed outward. The effect
produced was to throw down all the stone
walls built along the side of the noun
tain, and running n. +. and S. W.
There are a number of light wooden
buildings standing within an area OF
perhaps five acres, and all OF these, to-
gether with the main dwelling were
pushed, as it were, eight or ten inches
down hill, lie, towards the s. +. by the
shocks. A great many pieces OF crOckery
and other articles on shelves on the n.
w. side of the house were thrown down,
and other evidences LETT of the peculiar
character OF the shocks. Some water
pipes three miles up the mountain were
broken and other damage done.
At Pahala Mill, few miles further on,
and nearer the sea, but little damage
was done 4 large water tank was dis
lodged from its foundation, falling to-
ward the west One of the boilers was
loosened from its settings and some
steam connections broken. But little
damage was done to the stone walls,
those that were tumbled down falling to-
ward the vest. Mr.. Foster, the man
ager, reported that two OF the springs,
high up in the mountains, which form
erly supplied part OF the flume system
of the plantation, had disappeared since
the earthquakes. At Punaluu no dam
age to speak OF was done, while at Hilea
"a few miles further on and little
'urther back from the sea-beach-the
shocks were much more numerous and
yiolent. Mr. Clarke, with his party, ar
rived ut Hilea at p. m. Sunday after
noon, and were most Hospitality enter
tanned by Mr. c. n. Spencer, the man
.ger The next day the party, with
fresh horses and men, went on to WaiO-
hinu, where they were met by Mr.. Ed.
Smith, and then went on their way for
ihe new flow. They were joined when
near the upper Government road by Mr..
L. McCOmbrey, an old resident and
mountaineer-who acted as guide on the
mountain for Captain Clarence Dutton-
and under his pilotage crossed the head
of the 1868 flow, and went up through
the woods to Macs upper camp, where
hey arrived about p. m.
The next day the flow was visited at a
point about 5000 feet above the sea.
Che most OF the lava was still very
hot and the liquid matter was pouring
from around the base and out of the top
of one of a series of high cones Fine
views were taken of the flow from differ
ent points, as well as of the liquid lava,
and good "cOin'' and other specimens
obtained. Mr.. Clarke also made num-
her of sketches of the new flow and of
points OF interest on the old flows in the
neighborhood.
The next day the party assembled the
nlountain to the point where the lava
rst issued from the ground after pursu-
ing subterranean course for some miles
from the summit. Here great quantities
OF sulphur We're found, coating the vege-
tation and rocks, and from numerous
crevices sulphur fumes were poured out.
\ series of views and sketches were
taken here, and specimens collected.
Panoramic views were also taken. Re-
turning to camp for the night the party
next morning Thursday left for McCom-
:'rey's house, where they were detained
all the next day by heavy
rains. On the way down photos
and sketches of the 1868 flow
were made, and on Friday the new
flow was visited where it crosses the
Government road Here a series of
photos were taken and sketches made to
assist in tie calculation of the amount
of work that will have to be done TO es-